ROLLA, Mo. – A new look Missouri S&T men's soccer team, which will take the field officially for the first time on Friday, was picked to finish in ninth place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the league's pre-season poll that was released today.

The Miners finished last season with a 6-8-2 record and 5-7-2 mark in the GLVC, but struggled after a fast start to the campaign that included a win over a nationally-ranked Northeastern State team – one S&T will face in its opener on Friday – that began a five-game winning streak. However, after that string of wins was halted with a loss to Rockhurst, the Miners won just once and played to two draws over their final 10 games of the season.

Missouri S&T has a sizeable roster heading into the 2022 campaign, led by junior forward Sigurd Semlitsch (Oslo, Norway/Stabekk Videregaaende Skole), the top returning scorer with three goals and two assists last season.  The Miners also return four others who found the back of the net last season in Leyton Harper (Andover, KS/Central), Jason Jorgensen (Florence, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Santa Maria), Jimmy Sanchez (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell Central) and Jacob Bandy (Bettendorf, IA/Pleasant Valley).

Davis Joseph (Andover, KS/Andover Central), who logged the most minutes in goal for S&T last fall and had a 1.81 goals against average in 796 minutes, is the most experienced goalkeeper back in the mix this season and will look to hold off a group of three others to retain the starting role.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: Northeastern State finished the 2021 season at 10-10 and played in the championship game of the Great American Conference Tournament, where it fell to Fort Hays State.  The RiverHawks bring back their leading scorer from last year in Flynn Semmerling, who tallied eight goals and three assists, while five-goal scorer Luan Lamas also returns.  Goalkeepers Niklas Kirhoff and Brett Ekperouh split the goalkeeping duties a year ago and combined for a 1.65 goals against average.

Rogers State finished third in the GAC last season with a 7-3-2 conference mark and went 11-5-3 overall.  Ruben Carrasco, who shared the team's goal scoring lead in 2021 with six goals, returns along with D'Waylan McIntosh, who scored three times and added three assists.  Sophomore Declan Viljoen returns to the goalkeeping position where he posted a 0.87 goals against average in 1,750 minutes and finished with seven shutouts.

THE GLVC PRE-SEASON POLL:  The GLVC has three teams ranked in the national Top 25 by the United Soccer Coaches in its pre-season poll, but the lowest-ranked team among that trio – Maryville – was picked to win the conference title by the league coaches.

The Saints received eight of the 13 first place votes to edge defending GLVC champion Indianapolis, who is now coached by former S&T mentor Gabe Hall.  Illinois Springfield, the third ranked team among the group and the Miners' first opponent in GLVC play on Sept. 11, was picked to finish third. 

UIndy was picked fourth, UIS in 16^th and Maryville at No. 25 in the national pre-season rankings.

Lewis, Drury, McKendree, Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy were all picked ahead of the Miners in the GLVC poll.

2022 GLVC Men's Soccer Pre-Season Poll
1.  (tie) Maryville, 132 points (7 first place votes)
1.  (tie) Indianapolis, 132 points (2 first place votes)
3.  Illinois Springfield, 137 points (3 first place votes)
4. Lewis, 107 points
5. Drury, 105 points
6. McKendree, 91 points
7. Missouri-St. Louis, 75 points
8. Quincy, 65 points
9. Missouri S&T, 56 points
10. Rockhurst, 54 points
11. Truman State, 30 points
12. Southwest Baptist, 22 points
13. William Jewell, 18 points